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Partita No 5 in G major, BWV829

Introduction

The key of G major always seems to inspire Bach to write music of great radiance, joy, gentleness and technical display (the ‘Goldberg’ Variations and the fifth French Suite come immediately to mind). The Partita No 5 in G major is no exception. He opens in playful mood with a Praeambulum, the first four bars of which become a kind of ritornello. The necessary hand-crossing adds visual effect. The assimilation of rhythms in the lyrical Allemande (playing the dotted rhythms to coincide with the triplets) brings an extra touch of grace. Agility and lightness of touch are required in the Corrente – harmonically the simplest such dance in the set. Ornamentation is an integral part of the exquisite Sarabande. Unlike those of the French Suites, the Sarabandes of the Partitas are already very florid and seem to require few additions from the interpreter, but not in this case. The use of double-dotting gives the rhythm extra poise and expressivity. Upon first hearing, the next movement, Tempo di Minuetta, is confusing. Surely a minuet has three beats to a bar, not two. Bach combines the two to make a whimsical, delicate dance. The 3/8 swing of the Passepied reminds me of the fourth variation of the ‘Goldberg’, having the same rustic charm. If it were not for the difficulty of the final Gigue, this Partita would probably be performed more often, but here Bach really goes to town with a double fugue – perhaps the most technically challenging movement of the six Partitas.

Recordings

Angela Hewitt’s acclaimed recordings of Bach on the piano have received the highest critical acclaim and found their way into thousands of homes, selling nearly 400,000 copies since her recording of the Inventions burst onto the scene in 1994. Now ...» More

'Effortlessly eclipsing all competition … the whole disc gives unalloyed pleasure; definitely one of my choices of the year' (Gramophone)'One of the outstanding Bach pianists of our time, her playing of the great Partitas is something very special indeed. She is formidably equipped for ...» More

This final volume of 'The Matthay Pupils' presents most of his remaining students who left recordings, as well as the few discs Matthay himself made. Of particular interest is a selection from the almost unknown AFMC label which was affiliated to ...» More